The interviewees were Kendall Carter and Stephan Hauray, a couple living in the the French countryside near Lyon. Kendall is an American, and Stephan is a Frenchman.

FASOTE: Hello and welcome. Let's start off your feelings on United States of America today. What do you think of it, of what it stands for?

KC: I think that what the rest of the world thinks it stands for is vastly different from what Americans think it stands for. We spend too much time putting our nose into everyone else's problems without taking care of the problems we have at home, and I think maybe not soon, but later, that this will be the beginning of the end for us.

SH: Fom the French perspective it's the same vision at the end, it is a leaning fortress you know - collapsing. Or, at least, shaking up a little bit. It's slowly going down, and I don't know how far it will go until the people try to shake up the system, like some kind of mini-revolution or something. A strong revolution, I think, will be necessary - you will have a social one at some point. The world has had a lot of social revolutions before, and I think that the U.S. needs one right now. That's it.

FASOTE: So, you call America a leaning fortress. Using the word fortress implies to me that you have respect for the US - is this true?

SH: There is no anger, there is no hate. We treat the U.S. as part of our union countries you know - on the right side. They're on the same side as us - we may not always have the same opinions, but at least we're on the same side. We want freedom, we want peace - but we don't always have the same path to get there.

FASOTE: So, do you see America as kind of like a big brother - on the same side, but ultimately, they are stronger and, in the end, you have to do what they say?

KC: I think the French would rather think of us like a distant cousin.

FASOTE: But, let's be honest. America pretty much has absolute power. France just voted for the U.N. resolution against Iraq because they had to. If they didn't, the Ameicans would have gone ahead with the war and rendered the U.N. meaningless.

SH: Yes - America has too much power right now. But, it's getting less and less. I'm confidant that we will see balance, because its not like the U.S. deserves absolute power. I mean yeah - they saved the world in 1945, but it has been 50 years now and it's time to move to another place in history. You know, we respect you for what you've done, and what you've done for Europe, but now is our time to step up, you know - that's it. It' time to get the balance - the U.N. on on top and then two great powers - the U.S. and the E.U. That is the only way to save capitalism. Of course, this means youwant to save capitalism in the first place... (laughter).

FASOTE: OK - so I think we know what you think about America. Moving on - what does the word freedom mean to you? Youknow - that word that Bush says we are defending.

SH: I think that freedom is just a way of perceiving the fact that you can do anything. As long as you believe you can do anything, you are free. Although, you know I could go to Moscow tomorrow, but I would have to pay for it, so I'm not really that free. So, it applies to many things - geography, political, and of course, economics (laughing), which means the most to me.

KC: In a capitalist society, one of the surest wys to freedom is through monetary power, but I think that the problem with freedom is that it means different things to different people, and that's why there is such a big conflict about it. Because when Bush says freedom, it's not necessarily the same as when someone else says it. To talk strictly about freedom neglects the other side of that coin, which is responsibility. And there is no freedom without responsibility and the other constraints that we must have, whether they be spiritual or religous or moral or whatever. Ther is no such thing as pure freedom I think - it doesn't exist.

FASOTE: OK - moving on. When I say the word Islam to you, what do you think?

KC: I feel sad because there is pain associated with that word. It has become a source of controversy and pain for people, and it makes me sad because I don't thin it should have to be that way.

FASOTE: Is the source of the pain the fact that Islam is perceived as an obstacle to peace?

KC: No, I don't think of it that way. It isn't an obstacle to peace, but for some people it is a reason to do harmful things to others, and for others it's a concept they can't understand so they hate it. And because of all the recent media frenzy around certain events, Islam, which doesn't need to be any kind of obstacle, has become one for a lot of people. I mean, why does it have to be so controversial?

FASOTE: Well, because Muslims blew up the World Trade Center in a clear act of war.

KC: Yes, but if you speak to people who are not those Muslims they will tell you that Islam isn't about that at all.

FASOTE: Do you think the differences between Islam and the West are irreconcilable?

SH: I can't say they are irreconcilable, so I will say no. But I will measure that by saying that we need to learn from each other much more than we have in the past 100 years, as we haven't done jackass on that. We haven't tried to understand each other at all. We haven't given a damn about Islam since the Crusades. For us, Muslim is a barbarian religion, for you, Christianity is not right, no fair.

FASOTE: The French are predominately Catholic, right?

KC: Yeah - poser Catholics.

SH: Yes, but whatever. The second biggest minority here is the Muslims. But, it doesn't matter. The problem is... - well, you know I agree with what Karl Marx said about religion being pretty much useless. You're supposed to be more educated. You're supposed to know much more than the average person 600 years ago. So, I mean, you know, God is important - ok, youhave to believe something happened at some point. I believe something happened at some point, but I don't know what. I mean - I was raised Catholic by my mother, but now she is a Buddhist. But, I mean - who cares? Mohammed is as good as Jesus Christ, but Buddha is the best, and eveyone knows that (laughs). I mean, everyone has something to say about it, and they are all pretty much right.

FASOTE: You know, Muslims believe a similar thing to what you just said. The Koran says that God sent around 124,000 prophets to man to show him the right path. Men like Jesus, Moses and Abraham are some of the ones who are mentioned, but many believe that people like Buddha and Confucious and other holy men of different faiths were prophets as well but just weren't named.

SH: That's true - you are more open minded for sure. But Buddha, he was no a prophet.

FASOTE: Well, even though he wasn't named in the Koran he could be, and that's the Muslim world view.

SH: But, your view... You accept every other... Because, we don't accept Mohammed as a prophet.

FASOTE: So, from your Catholic perspective you are saying that Islam will never be legitimate because Prophet Mohammed will never be accepted?

SH: Yes, yes - I never doubt it. We will always be different. But, it doesn't mean, I mean - Muslims have a lot of men, Christians have a lot of weapons, but one way or another we will find a way to get together.

FASOTE: Cool. OK - moving out of the political realm. If you could live anywhere, regardless of cost, where would it be?

KC: (after conferring with her husband) Barcelona, because we've never been there before.

FASOTE: OK, easy enough. Who is your hero?

SH: John Joyce. He was a pacifist in the early 20th century who was assasinated in 1914 right before the first World War by a communist. Big figure for peace in France. I could have said Ghandi, but he is more universal, and everyone could say him. I'm from Europe, from France, and John Joyce would be my man because he was a towering figure for peace.

FASOTE: Allright. That's it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.